A Two-Page Research on Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola as Corporate Citizenship

Instructions: A two-page research on Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola as corporate citizenship (Part1) and a two-page corporation report on setting up and office in Saudi Arabia.

Part I: This is a research on two multinational corporations (MNCs’): Retailing industry: Wal-Mart and Beverage industry: Coca-Cola 

1. Please go to the two MNCs’ (Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart) websites and locate their most recent CSR reports, also often called corporate citizenship, sustainability, or corporate responsibility reports. You can also locate the reports at:

a. http://database.globalreporting.org/ (38,761 reports from 10,334 organizations), enter organizations name in search box.

b. http://www.csrwire.com/reports or http://globaledge.msu.edu/industries/.

2. Please Compare and contrast the information provided by the two companies' reports.  

a. Are there differences between the two reports in terms of the range of issues dealt with and the depth of coverage on specific issues, risk areas (labor, environment, human rights, supplier relationships, bribery, corruption, health, animal testing, etc.)? Do you think these differences can be explained by industry differences or the national origins of the MNCs or by the location of their foreign operations? 

b. Emerging markets present both opportunities (generate profits, create societal value) and risks (pose challenging operating environments) for MNCs. Are there examples in the two reports you chose of the companies going beyond their legal responsibilities to creating shared value, of how they are achieving the perception of being socially responsible by the local communities in the foreign countries where they operate? Be sure to apply Porter’s framework in your analysis.

Part II: Assume that you are a manager in a multinational corporation that needs to send a team of three to five people to Saudi Arabia for about two weeks to investigate the possibility of selling your products there.

1. What advice should you give them to help assure that cultural problems do not impede their success in this task?

2. Assume your company is from North America or Europe and considering establishing an office in Saudi Arabia. Which additional operating costs might it have to assume because of the Saudi culture?

3. What industries tend to be particularly subject to cultural differences? Why?

4. Please be specific and support your views with references (under 5 years old) to the required course materials. Provide concrete examples of both cultural elements and specific countries!